I live in southeastern NC where sweetgum is everywhere(it's like a weed). Farmers will push up ditch banks and let me have the trees,drive up to them in the field,cut out the trunk and go.The farmer pushes up the limbs and will burn them(doesn't give me much time, but it is free). My splitter is old.Has a single stage pump,a 2.5" cylinder ,and a 1941 Wisconsin 6hp motor that weights 150lbs.I don't know the tonnage but it ain't much. Motor loosing compression now and time to upgrade. I want a vert. splitter.Been looking online and lots to chose from. Would like to have Made in USA but can't find many.As far a ditch, knotted up sweetgum goes, it is HARD to split (just seems to tear).My old splitter didn't like it at all. I don't burn but 5-6 cords a year and I would like some suggestions on what size splitter to go for.
22 ton-37 ton
- Thread starter mcleanrp
- Start date
-
Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.
We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.
We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil. -
Super Cedar firestarters 30% discount Use code Hearth2024 Click here
- Status
Don't know anything about sweetgum, but my 22 splits red and white oak without a problem. The 2 stage pumps on today's splitters make a big difference.
I've been using a borrowed 22 ton Huskee for awhile and it has yet to bog down on anything...twisted elm, birch, beech, knotty pine, hard maple...it just goes through them. I've never seen sweetgum that I know of, so I cna't say how it splits relative to my stuff, but the 22 ton is probably all you need...on the other hand I've never heard anyone complain that they bought too powerful a splitter so if you've got the cash to cover the extra, go for a bigger unit.
I have a 22 ton huskey for TSC and split alot of locus with it. Lokus has wood grain that goes everywhere but straight. My 22ton goes thru it with no problems.
Thanks for the input. Thought I found a deal on craigslist. A 24 ton with a 9hp Subaru engine for 500.00. Drove 1.5 hours one way to see it and check operation (took a chunk of sweet gum with me). Would not start. Had not been used in a couple of years and had bad gas in it. This was a Harbor Freight unit. Have not heard anything about these but if they are anything like their other tools I'm glade it wouldn't start.Came home with out a splitter.
I've got a 20+ year old 30 ton Northstar splitter. I also have sweetgum in my woodpile. Not much of it, I threw most of it in a pile in the woods to rot, but I know how hard it is to split. if you use an ax or a maul you can forget it. you are not splitting anything. my splitter has done well with it if I could lift the heavy stuff up onto the splitter. When it's wet, it has to be the heaviest stuff on earth. When it's dry it weighs noothing and burns way too fast.
I saw your comment about built in USA. That is hitting home with me more and more over the last couple of years. I bought a splitter from Ram splitter in Rockford, IL. It is made right here in the USA. The unit I purchased has an electric motor that was made in China, but the assembly and labor to construct it is local. I think they ship around the country. I wouldn't advise the electric one for your use, but they make all kinds of gas powered units.
I saw your comment about built in USA. That is hitting home with me more and more over the last couple of years. I bought a splitter from Ram splitter in Rockford, IL. It is made right here in the USA. The unit I purchased has an electric motor that was made in China, but the assembly and labor to construct it is local. I think they ship around the country. I wouldn't advise the electric one for your use, but they make all kinds of gas powered units.
My dad got a 20 ton MTD about 20 years ago and it's seen a LOT of wood. Never met anything it couldn't split. I bought a 27 ton Troy Bilt two or three years ago, but only because I found a good deal. I'd have been perfectly happy with a 20 ton. I couldn't tell any difference. They both split easy wood quickly and struggle with realy dense stuff or stuf with a lot of knots. Sweetgum is no problem for either. My dad says mine is a little faster on really hard to split wood, but I dont' know. Anything you buy will be just fine. I would pay more attention to other features than how many tons. Stuff like...
* What engine - You can get parts for Briggs/honda's, etc
* Will it tilt? - I only use my upright so I dont' have to pick up the rounds. I recently split some 4ft diameter rounds (With the help of a skidsteer)
* How big is the base that you split agianst? Bigger=less fighting to keep big wood under the splitter
* Is there some kind of anti slip something on the base? Having used one without anything, the couple of steel rings on the base of my really help keep logs from slipping off the base.
* Where is the muffler pointing? You don't want to breath exaust for several hours while splitting.
* Are the tires rated to be towed on the road?
I agonize over purchase like this and I spent quite a bit of time deciding on mine. I pretty much decided I wanted someting made by MTD which includes MTD, Troy Bilt, maybe Cub Cadet, possibly a few others. I ruled out husky, but I can't remember now why. I also ruled out any harbor freight ones after reading about how they required a lot more maintenance and working on than the others. Also, seems like there ergonomics weren't the best at the time.
Anyway, a log splitter should last a long long time, my dad still uses his. Don't cheap out now and regret it for 20 years. I've seen TONS of log splitters over the last few months on craigslist. Keep looking and be patient. A good deal will come along. Good deal doesn't always equal cheap.
Also, small engines are plentiful on craigslist, so you could probably replace your engine with a 5-6.5hp engine for $50-$75.
* What engine - You can get parts for Briggs/honda's, etc
* Will it tilt? - I only use my upright so I dont' have to pick up the rounds. I recently split some 4ft diameter rounds (With the help of a skidsteer)
* How big is the base that you split agianst? Bigger=less fighting to keep big wood under the splitter
* Is there some kind of anti slip something on the base? Having used one without anything, the couple of steel rings on the base of my really help keep logs from slipping off the base.
* Where is the muffler pointing? You don't want to breath exaust for several hours while splitting.
* Are the tires rated to be towed on the road?
I agonize over purchase like this and I spent quite a bit of time deciding on mine. I pretty much decided I wanted someting made by MTD which includes MTD, Troy Bilt, maybe Cub Cadet, possibly a few others. I ruled out husky, but I can't remember now why. I also ruled out any harbor freight ones after reading about how they required a lot more maintenance and working on than the others. Also, seems like there ergonomics weren't the best at the time.
Anyway, a log splitter should last a long long time, my dad still uses his. Don't cheap out now and regret it for 20 years. I've seen TONS of log splitters over the last few months on craigslist. Keep looking and be patient. A good deal will come along. Good deal doesn't always equal cheap.
Also, small engines are plentiful on craigslist, so you could probably replace your engine with a 5-6.5hp engine for $50-$75.
I had been wanting a splittter forever but the price was NOT getting justified by the Mrs. So a few weeks ago I'm walking out of my local hardware store and see them sticking a hand written price tag on a 22 ton speeco, it says $300.00 ?! They had robbed a few parts off it and just wanted it to go away. Talk about perfect timing! I immediately called the household CFO and got permission to get it. A couple hoses and a valve and good to go. There are good deals to be had. Just have to be patient and keep your eyes peeled.
Trktrd said:
That's the kind of deal I am looking for right there!
Right now I have a horizontal shaft 6.5hp honda clone ready to go and repower some quality splitter.
Harbor Freight splitters actually are built well, but their lack of tuning the clone engines leave something to be desired.
BUT with the crap E-10 gas we are getting nowadays, it really doesn't matter what it is engine-wise. You will be
cleaning the float bowl on a semi-annual basis unless you use MARINE grade Sta-Bil for ethanol.
My buddy's northstar 30-ton w/ a briggs vertical shaft sat for 10 months, and he loaned it to me recently.
Towed it to the woodsite, and of course it wouldn't start, and when I took off the float bowl brass screw (also the main jet..) it looked
like someone had poured powdered sugar and superglue in the bottom of the bowl. The main jet was absolutely clogged where it wouldn't run
unless it was on full choke. Of course I didn't have anything with me to clean the carb except a dirty rag and paper towels....
So after splitting for 3 or 4 hours with that POS, I finally took it home and cleaned the carb thoroughly. It runs like new now (which it should...)
Funny how the 20 yr old 20 ton MTD spiltters is mentioned here as I just rented one from a guy @ $30/day. He had a few pieces welded onto it years ago to help prevent damage to the fuel tank and cradles on either side of the I-beam which helps a lot!
It ain't much to look at but it sure did the job! It has a 5.5 hp Honda engine that starts up real easy and runs smooth. I offered to buy it off him since he stated he's looking at another splitter but he turned me down as I guess there is a lot of demand to rent splitters around here.
It ain't much to look at but it sure did the job! It has a 5.5 hp Honda engine that starts up real easy and runs smooth. I offered to buy it off him since he stated he's looking at another splitter but he turned me down as I guess there is a lot of demand to rent splitters around here.
my wife's family has a MONTGOMERY WARD ~20 Ton splitter that has been repowered twice.
It's a small single-stage pump and it's low to the ground (good and bad). I used it last year for about 3 months.
Right now it has a 11hp pull-start industrial briggs that actually has a throttle screw (and a mixture adjustment).
When I borrowed it, it was blowing black smoke in my face until I adjusted the mixture. It also had water in the carb....
Comparing it to the newer splitters with bigger cylinders, 2-stage pumps and smaller HP engines is difficult.
If I actually buy a new splitter, it'll probably be a Brave 26-ton. I think it's the best quality-to-price ratio out there:
http://www.braveproducts.com/itemlist.php?mode=category&categoryid=103
Those prices are delivered to your door... compare that to Troy-bilt, Huskee, or Harbor Freight. It blows them all away IMO.
It's a small single-stage pump and it's low to the ground (good and bad). I used it last year for about 3 months.
Right now it has a 11hp pull-start industrial briggs that actually has a throttle screw (and a mixture adjustment).
When I borrowed it, it was blowing black smoke in my face until I adjusted the mixture. It also had water in the carb....
Comparing it to the newer splitters with bigger cylinders, 2-stage pumps and smaller HP engines is difficult.
If I actually buy a new splitter, it'll probably be a Brave 26-ton. I think it's the best quality-to-price ratio out there:
http://www.braveproducts.com/itemlist.php?mode=category&categoryid=103
Those prices are delivered to your door... compare that to Troy-bilt, Huskee, or Harbor Freight. It blows them all away IMO.
- Feb 10, 2006
- 259
22-Ton Huskee owner here. Haven't given me any problems at all (knock on wood). The only tale I can recall is when splitting some cedar. Real stringy stuff, but it smells so darn good. I ended up putting some of the stringy leftovers in my cigar humidor. Its seasoned now and you can smell the aroma outside when burning. Planning to burn some during xmas eve and xmas...
I just bought a 22 ton Huskee from TSC within the last month. I live in southern MD and also have a lot of Sweetgum and just finished splitting about two cords. If the round is smaller, say less than six inches in diameter then it will split it down the middle. If it's bigger than that then it won't split, the splitter will die. On larger rounds I had to peel the outside of the round off, it was amazing how much tearing there was and how much time it was taking to do just one round....at least 5 minutes.
Wow Spur, that just doesn't sound right. Is sweet gum that much harder than elm? Maybe they are loaded with knots?
I owned a 20 ton Speeco vertical/horizontal splitter with 8HP Tecumseh which I bought new in April 1996 for just under a grand.Used the Hell out of it for the first 7 yrs,would split anything I could throw at it.Gnarly twisted large white elm with knots or crotch grain,honey locust & bur oak stumps,you name it.Only once did a tough piece kill the engine in all that time. Always stored in parents garage,looked & run like new when I sold it 5 yrs ago.Looking back,somedays I wish I kept it,especially with my ever increasing back & shoulder problems with age.But I was needing extra money at the time & you gotta do what you gotta do obviously.....
They still make good quality products for a decent price.No idea if they're still Made In The USA or not though.
They still make good quality products for a decent price.No idea if they're still Made In The USA or not though.
- Status
